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My name is Pilirani Tendai Khoza from Malawi. I was a youth keynote speaker at the 2017 The MasterCard Foundation Young Africa Works Summit on the topic of “gender.” Upon arriving in Kigali for the first time, I distinctly remember it being an amazing place where I gained a lot of insight by experiencing the Rwandese culture at first hand. Needless to say, the trip to Rwanda had a profound effect on me and opened up a special place for Kigali in my heart. Read More

“The Young Africa Works Summit 2017 was a very exciting learning platform that enlightened us on opportunities and options to increase the role of youth in the future of agricultural development in Africa by improving their skills, knowledge and experience”, Bamlaku Asmare, icipe’s youth delegate from Ethiopia.

The second edition of The MasterCard Foundation Young Africa Works Summit took place in Kigali, Rwanda and I was fortunate to be among the youth delegates selected to attend. The Summit that brought together more than 300 participants, including 47 young people, aimed at finding ways to achieve sustainable and meaningful livelihoods for youth in the agriculture sector by engaging them in conversations on the future they want.

The Young Africa Works 2017 was a convening of giants and experienced agricultural practitioners in Africa and its sub-regions. It was a formal affair where requests were made, research findings were shared, contacts exchanged and long lasting relationships were forged. I was selected as a youth delegate and the 3 -day interactive conference will go down in my memory lane as one of the most exceptional summits I ever attended. Read More

Would you believe me if I told you that prior to attending The MasterCard Foundation Young Africa Works Summit I never thought people could depend on agriculture and farming in general as a means of livelihood? Well, let me take through that journey. Read More

My name is Emmanuel Fiifi Musah and I am a second-year Agribusiness student of the premier Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) Ghana as well as a MasterCard Foundation Scholar. Read More

The MasterCard Foundation strongly believes that young people should be at centre of the conversation about youth employment and entrepreneurship. The Summit youth program was designed to equip youth delegates with the necessary skills, knowledge, and networks to effectively participate during Summit and in their professional lives afterwards. The program included pre-Summit webinars, an intensive one-day pre-Summit workshop, a Summit mentorship program, and a long-term mentorship program.

Three of Africa’s leading experts in the agricultural sector, Dr. Segenet Kelemu, Dr. Lindiwe Majele Sibanda and Dr. Wanjuru Kamau-Rutenberg join CNBC Africa anchor Nozipho Mbwanja for an engaging stage-setting discussion on agricultural transformation at the 2017 Young Africa Works Summit in Kigali.

The second MasterCard Foundation Young Africa Works Summit in Kigali focused on how young people are transforming the agricultural sector. CNBC Africa anchor Nozipho Mbwanja explores this theme and others during interviews with sector experts, panelists and youth delegates.

Beatrice had a busy day. It’s tomato season, which means she had to wake up extra early to go to the garden to harvest some ripe tomatoes. On her way, she made sure to feed the poultry and check on the goats. It’s also market day in her village, so after feeding her children and sending them to school, Beatrice headed to the market to setup her corner stall and start selling her tomatoes. By early afternoon, Beatrice had already sold all of her tomatoes, so she decided to stop by the local grocery shop on her way home. George, the owner, told her he needed extra help next week and asked Beatrice to come work for a few days with him. It was a busy day, but a productive one. Beatrice was able to earn some income from her sales and secure next week’s income.